Hypothermia in Hypoxic Birth Injury

Hypothermia in hypoxic birth injury cases is a mode of treatment for brain injured infants shortly after birth which has been shown to have significant results as far as reducing the risk of death or significant neurological impairment. The cooling blanket is applied to the head or body and is designed to reduce the body temperature to 91.4°F. Ideally these infants should receive the hypothermia within six hours after birth.

There are several criteria to be employed as to which babies may be eligible for this type of treatment but the most significant is an assessment of grade II or III encephalopathy based on the Sarnat Scale.